McLaren Senna: on track at Estoril in 789bhp hypercar

I just got back from a fabulous weekend at the all-action Estoril circuit about an hour west of Lisbon, on a mission to drive the mighty, track-focused, 789bhp, £750,000 limited-edition Senna, McLaren’s fastest car yet that’s also capable of being driven on the road.

There was no road driving this time, mind. The Senna is very much aimed at circuit driving and the powers that be decided we should concentrate entirely on that and not complicate the issue. Given the strong liking McLaren owners tend to show for all forms of circuit driving, it looked a good idea — although we’ll of course be interested in taking to the public highway when the opportunity presents. Up to now, no hack has driven a Senna on an open road, so taking that final step will be an important milestone. 

McLaren Senna: first drive in 789bhp hypercar

I have to confess I felt some strong pre-drive nerves before the Estoril test; this new McLaren is undoubtedly potent enough to give a decent account of itself at Le Mans — just finishing as I was driving — and it cannot be too widely known that I’m no Le Mans driver. Luckily, McLaren is brilliant at helping ordinary drivers appreciate extraordinary cars, as became clear with driver coach and former Le Mans winner Danny Watts sitting alongside me. I was able to reach limits I’d never have achieved on my own, hitting 275km/h (170mph) on the straight, cornering respectably close to the limit and not missing too many apexes.

At the start of the driving day, we were offered sighting laps in a McLaren 720S before moving to the faster, lighter, more agile Senna — which was not to denigrate the 720S, but it demonstrated graphically to a non-racer the amazing effect a GT racer’s level of downforce (it builds to 800kg at 150mph) has on stability and cornering grip. Looking in the reverse direction, the experience (quietness, smoothness, carefully tuned sounds) also demonstrated what impressive refinements have been built into the 720S, given the velocities it can attain. 

I must say I admired the McLaren people for this straightforward approach; others in the car game would have been a lot less willing to make this sensible distinction between a big-selling road car and a much lighter road-going track weapon costing three times as much, for fear of damaging one or other. Instead, they give the knowledgeable people who buy cars like this the credit for a bit of intelligence…